Ethanol/ˈeθənɔːl,ˈeθənəʊl/ Definition 1 of 2Pro Tip 1/3Common Solvent Ethanol dissolves substances for medicine or perfumes, not just for drinking. The ethanol in this perfume helps to blend the scents. Pro Tip 2/3Scientific Use In labs, ethanol helps in processes like DNA extraction, beyond commercial products. We need 95% ethanol for the DNA purification process. Pro Tip 3/3Confusing Beverages Not all alcohol in drinks is ethanol; some are toxic and not for consumption. The label confirms that the beverage contains safe, consumable ethanol.